Governor Proposes $20M for Arts Recovery from Federal ARP Funds
On Wednesday, May 19th, Governor Roy Cooper announced his proposal to spend $5.7 billion of American Rescue Plan (ARP) State Fiscal Recovery Funds which included $20 million for Arts Recovery Grants. If approved by the NC General Assembly, roughly 700 arts organizations statewide which were adversely impacted by the pandemic would be eligible for these grants to “help address financial hardships, jump start programing, ensure events and facilities are safe for the public, and guarantee access to resources with public Wi-Fi and enhanced educational content.” Additionally, the proposal included $100 million for Rural Downtown Transformation Grants which may include projects that “enhance arts, music, and other cultural attractions in downtown areas.”
What is next? Patience. The NC General Assembly is still working on the biennium budget for 2021-2023, and they will not address allocating State ARP funds until after the budget process is complete. Arts NC continues to work for $8 million for Restart the Arts grants to be allocated in the state budget, in addition to advocating for funding from State ARP funds.
The Governor’s ARP proposal recommended an allocation of $50 million to the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources ($20 million for Arts, $8.5 million for History, $8.5 million for Science, $8.5 million for Libraries, $2.25 million for the NC Symphony, and $2.25 million for the NC Museum of Art) as well as $10 million to the NC Department of Commerce to support the State’s film industry. (page 57-58)
The proposal also recommended $100 million allocated to the NC Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Division to award Rural Downtown Transformation Grants for projects that “include, but are not limited to, those that complement affordable housing units, support public facilities, rehabilitate or refurbish local government-owned buildings, and enhance arts, music, and other cultural attractions in downtown areas.” (page 34-36)
Arts NC was pleased to see that the Governor’s proposal utilized much of the research and data we have provided in our advocacy to make the case for this investment. We will continue to work with the NC General Assembly on the state budget as well as the allocation of State ARP Fiscal Recovery Funds in the weeks and months to come to secure funding for relief, reopening, and recovery for the arts sector in North Carolina.